Charges against Rehkamp refiled

Charges were refiled last week against a former Perry County president judge accused of assaulting his wife.

The refiling may delay judicial reinstatement for Senior Judge C. Joseph Rehkamp, 61, of Plymouth, Pa., who told police he did push his wife, Valerie, during a Jan. 16 altercation, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

The charges filed Feb. 23 came exactly a week after Luzerne County Magisterial District Judge Donald Whittaker dismissed the charges due to Valerie Rehkamp's refusing to testify.

The case will go on with or without Mrs. Rehkamp's testimony, said Luzerne County District Attorney Jacqueline Musto Carroll, as the Commonwealth has other evidence, including pictures of Mrs. Rehkamp's neck and statements from Judge Rehkamp and others.

"We can make the case without her testimony," Carroll said Feb. 24. "Officers did respond to the scene and domestic violence situations can be very dangerous. That has to be taken into consideration.'

Valerie Rehkamp's attorney, Scranton-based Kim Ann Giombetti, said her client wanted to deal with the matter in a private setting without all the public scrutiny, and that's why she declined to testify Feb. 16.

"It's disappointing the district attorney decided not to consider her wishes," Giombetti said. "I don't think there's anybody that wouldn't understand her wanting privacy for her family.'

The incident occurred after the couple finished celebrating their first wedding anniversary. The two first went to a sports bar in Wilkes-Barre where the judge consumed Long Island iced teas and Mrs. Rehkamp drank vodka, according to the affidavit, obtained from The Times Leader of Wilkes-Barre.

Rehkamp told police he "gets loud' when he drinks and at one point was asked to keep it down. The judge said he believes that or ongoing financial problems is what caused the disagreement between he and his wife.

Valerie Rehkamp drove the two home and "yelled and screamed' at her husband the entire drive, according to documents. Upon arriving at the house, Valerie told her husband to leave and while he went to gather items from the couple's bedroom, she continued to yell at him.

The judge alleged his wife continued to yell at him in the living room and then he "grabbed her with both hands open near her neck and pushed her into a chair," according to the affidavit of probable cause.

"I don't dispute there may be marks on her neck," Rehkamp is quoted as saying. "I shouldn't have done it. I just wanted to push her out of the way.'

Rehkamp then left and turned himself into police the following day. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 3, but Carroll said that most likely will be rescheduled.

His attorney, William Costopoulos, said he believes the charges wouldn't have been refiled if it weren't for Rehkamp's being a judge.

"The refiling of those charges was not about Mrs. Valerie Rehkamp and that's who it should have been about," Costopoulos said. "This refiling without any concern with Mrs. Rehkamp's wishes is a bit heavy-handed.'

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has barred Rehkamp from judicial duties until resolution of the matter. Rehkamp was seeking reinstatement, but with the charges being refiled, Costopolous believes that no action will be taken until resolution of the matter.

Costopoulos and Giombetti said their clients have not had any contact with each other as ordered by the court. Both attorneys said they are unsure if the couple will stay together, but will deal ultimately with the matter in private.

Rehkamp served as a judge in the 41st Judicial District, encompassing Perry and Juniata counties, for 17 years, retiring in 2008. Prior to that, he served seven and a half years as Perry County's district attorney.